Diary August 31, 1944

Russian troops during the occupüation of Bucharest.
Russian troops during the occupation of Bucharest.
WW2 War Diary for Thursday, August 31, 1944

Russian Front

Russians occupy Bucharest after advancing 56 km from Ploesti inside a day. Big crowds welcome the falsely expected liberators.

Western Front

British cross the Somme and capture Amiens; Americans cross the Mouse, near Sedan.

Sea War

Pacific: 15 carriers of TF 38 carve swathe of destruction across Japanese-held Islands north of New Guinea ­ – attacking Iwo Jima, Chichi Jima, the Palaus, Mindanao, the Visayas and Luzon (August 31-September 24). 1,000 Japanese planes, 150 ships and craft destroyed, for loss of 72 US planes. Americans immediately decide to cancel step-by-step reconquest of the Philippines via Mindanao and to proceed directly to Leyte Gulf.
Merchant shipping losses in August 1944: 13 Allied ships with 60,519 tons in Atlantic, 10 Allied ships with 57,785 tons elsewhere.
66 Japanese ships with 259,022 tons in Pacific.
25 U-boats sunk in the Atlantic, Arctic or Baltic (worldwide total of 41 losses), 15 new U-boats operational, 435 U-boats of all types total in service.

Occupied Countries

France: FFI liberate Bordeaux.

Normandy Campaign Losses:

British and CanadianU.S.German
Casualties83,825 (16,138 killed, 58,594 wounded) 125,847 (20,838 killed, 94,881 wounded) c.200,000 (91,000 PoWs)
Planes 2,036 (8,178 aircrew) 2,065 (8,536 aircrew) 3,656

Oval@3x 2

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